The winter season often gets the blame when livestock health begins to dwindle; however cold temperatures are rarely the direct cause of disease. Instead, stress triggered from frigid weather conditions are significant points of concern. As many parts of the south brace for this weekend’s winter weather, it’s critical to consider the potential impact on livestock.
When winter health challenges emerge, diagnostic testing through laboratories like the Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory, TVMDL, gives producers and veterinarians the insight they need to understand what is really happening and make informed management decisions.
Stress lowers immunity
Cold weather creates multiple layers of stress, which lowers immunity and increases susceptibility to disease. TVMDL veterinary diagnostician Brandon Dominguez, DVM, DACVPM, said that among these stressors, environmental challenges and nutritional deficiencies are the primary factors driving illness in livestock during winter.
Nutritional stress
In cold weather, animals use more energy to maintain body heat. If their diet does not provide enough calories, they burn body reserves, which weakens them over time.
Examples of nutritional stressors:
- Limited access to quality forage
- Increased energy requirements to maintain body heat
- Frozen water sources
- Reduced feed intake due to cold or wet conditions
Cold weather increases energy needs, even as forage availability and quality decline.
“It’s important to make sure livestock have plenty of hay and constant access to clean water that is not frozen,” Dominguez said. “And because animals tend to graze less during cold, windy weather, feeding high-protein supplements may be helpful.”
Environmental stress
Insufficient housing can place physical stress on livestock, which can weaken the immune system and make animals more susceptible to disease.
Examples of environmental stressors:
- Inadequate shelter or windbreaks
- Overcrowding in pens or barns
- Damp or wet bedding
- Dirty bedding and accumulation of manure
“Getting animals out of the wind makes a big difference,” Dominguez said. “Wind makes the cold even colder.”
Providing shelter that blocks wind is one of the most effective ways to reduce cold stress. Shelters do not need to be elaborate; barns, three-sided sheds, windbreaks or even tree lines can provide meaningful protection.
Additionally, pathogens like coccidia can persist in wintertime conditions, so environmental hygiene is important to prevent spreading, especially since animals often crowd together for warmth. Livestock under this type of stress must expend more energy fighting infections, which lowers immunity and increases susceptibility to illnesses such as Bovine Respiratory Disease, also known as BRD.
When livestock exhibit signs of illness, isolating them from the rest of the herd is recommended. This allows affected animals to receive extra care and feed, while reducing the likelihood of disease spread among healthy herd members.
Minimizing losses with diagnostics
TVMDL diagnostic services can help identify issues quickly and accurately, stopping health problems from becoming severe and reducing the risk of herd-wide outbreaks. Testing can protect productivity, weight gain, milk production, and overall herd value, which can otherwise decline sharply in harsh winter conditions.
Some of the many testing options offered by TVMDL include metabolic, electrolyte, and micromineral profiles. The laboratory can also test for specific pathogens and infectious agents that cause disease.
Coordinate with your veterinarian
Producers are encouraged to work with their local veterinarian when deciding on diagnostic testing
“Your veterinarian helps sort through individual herd characteristics and risk factors,” Dominguez said. “They also help interpret the test results and turn them into treatments to keep good herd health.”
Dominguez is one of five TVMDL veterinary diagnosticians available to assist veterinarians with testing recommendations and result interpretation. Together, veterinarians, producers, and diagnostic experts can work collaboratively to uphold overall livestock health during bitter cold periods.
For a more comprehensive understanding of TVMDL’s various test offerings, visit tvmdl.tamu.edu or call the College Station laboratory at 888.646.5623 or the Canyon laboratory at 888.646.5624.
